The journey to the FIRST Global Challenge (FGC) 2025 has officially begun for Team Mauritius with an exciting and symbolic milestone — the unboxing of the official Robotics Kit. Organised by FIRST Global, the Challenge is the Olympics of Robotics, where over 190 countries send their brightest young minds to collaborate, compete, and innovate around a global STEM theme.

This year, the stage is set in Panama, and Team Mauritius is proud to represent the island nation once again, under the mentorship and guidance of YUVA Mauritius.

In this article, we take you behind the scenes of our unboxing day, what the Robotics Kit means for our national team, and how it connects to a broader vision of youth empowerment, STEM education, and international collaboration.

The FIRST Global Challenge: More Than a Competition

The FIRST Global Challenge is not just a robotics competition — it’s a movement. With its annual themes tied to solving real-world problems such as clean water, renewable energy, or carbon capture, it encourages teenagers to develop both technical skills and global citizenship. Each team is provided with a standardised Robotics Kit that they must use to design and build a functioning robot to solve game-specific challenges.

For Team Mauritius, this competition provides a rare and transformative opportunity to engage in hands-on learning, cross-cultural exchange, and problem-solving at the highest level.

Unboxing the Robotics Kit: A Moment of Discovery

The arrival of the Robotics Kit is the first tangible sign that the journey has begun. On unboxing day, the air was filled with excitement as students and mentors gathered around the box filled with motors, gears, wheels, sensors, structural parts, control units, and coding components.

Every item unpacked represents not just a piece of machinery — but a new possibility. It’s in this moment that theory becomes practice, and dreams begin to take form. As each component was inspected and catalogued, our team members discussed how they might be used strategically within this year’s game field.

The Robotics Kit also fosters creativity. Although all teams receive the same components, the real challenge lies in how effectively students collaborate, innovate, and engineer a solution that works — much like how real-world problems are solved.

A Glimpse Inside the Kit: What’s Included?

The 2025 FIRST Global Robotics Kit includes:

• Motors and Servos: To drive movement and enable mechanisms
• Chassis and Structural Parts: For building the robot’s frame and armatures
• Sensors: For line following, object detection, and feedback control
• Electronic Control Unit (ECU): The brain of the robot that handles coding and execution
• Wiring and Connectors: To integrate all electrical systems
• Wheels, Belts, and Chains: For mobility and mechanical action
• Toolkits: To safely assemble and customise robot structures

Each piece plays a vital role in the final construction. How these parts are integrated, coded, and controlled will determine the effectiveness of the final robot that will represent Mauritius on the global stage in Panama.

The Learning Begins Now

With the kit unboxed, the real work begins. Over the next few months, the students — who are all under the age of 18 — will collaborate with their two mentors in prototyping, coding, testing, and refining their robot. This iterative process is critical not just for the competition, but for developing essential 21st-century skills.

From critical thinking and programming to communication and teamwork, the FGC experience serves as a powerful educational platform. Our young participants are not only preparing for a robotics match — they are being groomed to become the engineers, innovators, and leaders of tomorrow.

The Role of YUVA Mauritius

As the official organising body for Team Mauritius at FGC 2025, YUVA Mauritius plays a central role in recruiting, mentoring, and supporting our students. Our mission is to empower young people through educational, technological, and social development initiatives — and this programme is a shining example of that mission in action.

YUVA ensures:

• Transparent selection of the national team
• Professional mentoring by STEM experts
• Provision of tools, workspace, and resources
• Fundraising and sponsorship outreach
• National and international exposure for the team

Through its commitment, YUVA Mauritius continues to prove that a small island can make a global impact when it invests in its youth.

A Call for Support: Join Us on the Road to Panama

While talent and commitment are abundant, international participation requires funding. The cost of travel, accommodation, team uniforms, tools, and international logistics is significant. We are calling upon corporations, philanthropic organisations, and individual supporters to help us make this dream a reality for our young heroes.

By sponsoring Team Mauritius, you are not just funding a robotics team — you are investing in future innovators, promoting STEM education, and amplifying Mauritius’ voice on the world stage.

Follow Our Journey

The unboxing is just the beginning. In the weeks and months ahead, you can follow our journey on our official platforms. We will be sharing videos, progress updates, interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and educational insights — all leading up to the grand event in Panama in October 2025.

Stay connected, spread the word, and show your support by liking, sharing, and commenting on our content.

Final Thoughts

The FIRST Global Challenge 2025 represents hope, innovation, and global unity through technology. The unboxing of the Robotics Kit by Team Mauritius is more than an event — it’s a symbol of possibility, progress, and passion.

As we embark on this incredible journey to Panama, we carry the flag of Mauritius with pride, resilience, and determination. With your support, we’re not just building a robot — we’re building a brighter future.